In the Old Testament why did God instruct people to be killed?

This question was put to me recently as an e-responder for  www.peacewithgod.org.uk

The answer has to be reasonably concise and hopefully coherent! 

At one level it is great you ask such a question, because it indicates a morality that says people should not be killed, certainly not killed randomly and most definitely not in their thousands.

However, we have to place God’s love, kindness and forgiveness alongside his holiness and his justice and righteousness.   We might like Jesus meek and mild but not as a judge.

We also need to recognize that Israel was a theocracy – in effect, God was their king.  The Israelite's were a gathered people in a specific geographical area and God was moulding them and shaping them into becoming His people.  The overarching sin of the world is idolatry and idolatry ‘rubs off’ onto others – this was a constant threat to God’s people.  (Read the Book of the Prophet Hosea)  

Therefore, we can begin to see that the slaughter of Israel’s enemies at the command of God whilst it may seem inconsistent with a loving God was really an act of love for Israel and others due to the moral condition of these nations which included child sacrifice as archaeology has clearly shown. The degradation of these people was horrible. Further, God, who knows the hearts of all and what they will and will not do, was acting based on that knowledge. Thus, God ordered their judgment in order to protect Israel and their development as a nation, for it was through them that God would give the Saviour of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Also when reading the Old Testament it is important to consider a balanced view – and when we take a balanced view we do see God’s love, mercy, kindness and forgiveness alongside his judgment and punishment of wickedness and vice and abominable practices.

Consider these quotes from the Old Testament

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

Psalms 36:5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalms 89:8  O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD,  with your faithfulness all around you?

Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

As I said, this is a big question, what I have offered is just a few starting point.

However, I do hope these may be enough to help you in your thinking and possibly begins to answer your question.

Comments and feedback welcomed...